A recent crash-test that was conducted by the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS) has revealed shocking information about the safety of economy cars. In fact, 10 of the 11 vehicles that were involved in this test failed, and six of them received the lowest possible score. Due to this, it is a good idea to consider the Chevrolet Spark if you are looking for a new economy class car, as it was the only vehicle to receive an acceptable rating. Keep in mind that such a rating is not what you should be looking for, especially when you factor in the importance of keeping your family safe during an accident.

The Six Worst Rated Economy Vehicles

Six 2014 vehicles were ranked as “poor”, and this is even worse than the findings that were reported by the IIHS in 2013. The test that was given to determine how safe these vehicles are included simulating an accident at 40 mph that caused 25 percent of the driver’s side front end to strike a five foot tall barrier. As you can imagine, this could lead to serious injuries or even fatalities without the proper safety precautions in place as shown by the¬†Today Show. If you were driving any of these vehicles in New York, and a pedestrian was struck by you and killed, a¬†New York wrongful death lawyer¬†could take serious action against you for driving a faulty car.

Sadly, the Mitsubishi Mirage, Honda Fit, Toyota Prius C, Nissan Versa, Fiat 500 and Hyundai Accent all failed this test miserably. In fact, the Honda Fit did so poorly in this test that¬†Consumer Reports¬†made the decision to pull their recommendation for this vehicle. Additionally, the crash test dummy that was used while testing the Honda Fit, Fiat 500 and Hyundai Accent indicated injuries to the hips, upper legs and lower legs. The dummies in the other vehicles that received a poor grade showed damage to the lower legs only.

Four Economy Vehicles that Received a Marginal Score

If you care about safety, it is important to steer clear of purchasing a vehicle that has received a poor designation. However, a marginal score is not much better. During this test, the IIHS determined that the Ford Fiesta, Mazda 2, Toyota Yaris and Kia Rio all performed just well enough to receive a marginal rating. This is bad news for consumers who place safety at the top of their wish list. The test dummies in the Mazda 2 and Kia Rio sustained lower leg injuries, and the dummies in the Toyota Yaris had marginal damage to its lower legs. Fortunately, all of these vehicles did provide an acceptable or good level of protection for a driver’s head, neck, chest, hips and thighs. However, the structural integrity of each vehicle on this list received a marginal score, and this can easily lead to additional injuries.

As you can see, it is definitely important to review safety information before you make a purchasing decision. In the economy grade class, the Chevrolet Spark is the only economy car that prevented its testing dummy from receiving any injuries, earning it IIHS‚Äôs 2014 Top Safety Pick award. ¬†However, even if you select the safest car available, it is still possible for you to be injured in an accident. Therefore, you should always remain alert at all times while you on the road.

Domonique Powell has always read consumer magazines to get advice on the best purchases for her family, especially cars. While researching this article, information provided by a New York wrongful death lawyer proved most helpful in understanding the process of claims made in a wrongful death lawsuit.